Live from hot Jax: Only 30 (of 32) writers pick the Gators!
This is not as it seems. The sweater is orange. It is, of all things, a Gator dog. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Jacksonville — It was raining when I boarded the plane at Hartsfield-Jackson at 7:45 a.m. It is not raining here, unless you count sweat beads. Here it’s hot. Here it’s hot even by Florida standards. And, speaking of sweat …
Your genius correspondent managed to leave his glasses in Tim Tucker’s rental car at the stadium, necessitating another walk to/from distant Lot P. This marks the second time in 13 months I’ve left my glasses in a rental car, and the first was in Tempe, Ariz., where it was only 97 degrees and we were parked even farther away.
But enough about this perspiring writer. Let’s talk about other writers. The Florida Times-Union asked 32 writers, some of whom might actually have seen Georgia play in the past five years, for a prediction. (None of the 32 were from the AJC, you should know.) Thirty picked the Gators. The two exceptions: Matt Hayes of Sporting News and Scott Michaux of the Augusta Chronicle.
By tradition the Georgia-Florida crowd is split down the middle, but there seem many, many more Gators here this time. Perhaps Georgia fans are keeping a lower profile. Perhaps they sold their ducats. Perhaps they’re using the proceeds from that windfall to buy out Willie Martinez.
And I have to tell you, it has been a long time since I arrived at a stadium (with or without glasses) feeling as I do. I don’t see a way Georgia can win. I suppose Florida could fumble 10 times, but I can’t really see Florida doing that. And I can’t see the team with the better offense and better defense not winning.
But I have, as we know, been wrong before. I covered the Super Bowl between the Rams and the Patriots, in which St. Louis entered with the better offense and defense. I picked the Patriots to lose 42-3. They won 20-17. So I guess stranger things have happened. But not many, I submit.
With that, the floor is open for your comments and observations and contributions to the Free Willie Fund. I’ll be here all day, unless I feel the need to walk back across the parking lot and sweat through my shirt again.
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3,111 comments Add your comment
bugsquacher
October 31st, 2009
4:10 pm
throw those f’in black hats in the garbage and get back to tradition….. great defense, great running….
Mike
October 31st, 2009
4:10 pm
AJ green no where in sight.
Terd Feurgusson
October 31st, 2009
4:10 pm
what? no flags?
What ever for
October 31st, 2009
4:10 pm
Oh no – Richt has not learned a darn thing – why do a run play on 3rd and 15 when you are past midfield???? The annoucers mentioned that maybe Richt didn’t want to put Cox in a bad position this early in the game – what the heck is CMR thinking – he’s the dang QB for GA. USE HIM – CMR!!!!!!!!!!
And who the heck picked the uniforms?? They are so ugly – maybe they thought sinse it is Halloween that they would “dress-up”. Looks awful – use the red and black.
Cautiously Optimistic
October 31st, 2009
4:11 pm
This is rediculous! Cant we at least snap a ball without jumping? Yeah the extra week off really helped huh? Punting time……………game over.
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
4:11 pm
Cox scrambles for 10. Third down.
JB
October 31st, 2009
4:11 pm
CBS: “Last week vs. Vanderbilt…”
They didn’t play Vanderbilt last week. Sigh. Where’s Munson when you need him?
HairyDawg
October 31st, 2009
4:11 pm
We gots to gets ball in AJ’s. Let’s go Dawgs!
SouthTXDawg
October 31st, 2009
4:11 pm
Wow! Did anyone see what was happening to our line right before The Ginger Ninja took off?
VINCE DOOLEY
October 31st, 2009
4:11 pm
QUIT POSTING HERE TECH OR I WILL PERSONALLY COME OVER AND KICK YOUR A$S!!!!!!!!
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
4:11 pm
First down. T. King.
That’s a start.
Cuz
October 31st, 2009
4:11 pm
I got news for you. CWM is gone even if we win this game.
Top Dawg
October 31st, 2009
4:11 pm
The Dawgs are no longer competitive. Plus, I don’t like the helmets or the pants.
farleydawg79
October 31st, 2009
4:11 pm
holy crap…a first down…..
SouthTXDawg
October 31st, 2009
4:11 pm
Alright, nice play. First down…lets go!
bugsquacher
October 31st, 2009
4:11 pm
oh,,,, i just got it… the dawgs are going to a funeral…. theirs…. thats what the black hats are for
45ACP
October 31st, 2009
4:11 pm
Cuz – how were the ribs?
Simms
October 31st, 2009
4:11 pm
Hey ga can wear white helmets when they play tech. You know, the surrender color.
Danny G
October 31st, 2009
4:11 pm
This game is embarrassing for the good people from the state of Georgia, regardless of your team preference.
Wont Jones
October 31st, 2009
4:12 pm
Maybe all these penalties are part of the game plan…slow it down, ball control, etc.
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
4:12 pm
Washaun Ealey is Georgia’s best back. You knew that, though.
HairyDawg
October 31st, 2009
4:12 pm
There we go with a good running.
farleydawg79
October 31st, 2009
4:12 pm
wow…running on first down….thats something new…
Terd Feurgusson
October 31st, 2009
4:12 pm
Bet AJ sure regrets not signing with Florida now…
Ginger
October 31st, 2009
4:12 pm
our 1st drive of game was essentially stopped by penalty….we just got by and made a 1st down on this 2nd drive…wish that prevention of the penalty was more important to UGA
White & Gold Forever
October 31st, 2009
4:12 pm
Wow…you all sound like real fans…..
What else can you do when you team is University of Gimmick Again
Firemarkricht.net
October 31st, 2009
4:12 pm
This is a shining example of finesse football in a power football league.
FireMarkRicht.
SouthTXDawg
October 31st, 2009
4:12 pm
Dang. I wouldn’t mind the helmets if the facemasks were white. Washaun is our future in the backfield
boots
October 31st, 2009
4:12 pm
We need to get AJ Green involved in this game.
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
4:12 pm
First down. Samuel.
Three first downs for UGA.
j
October 31st, 2009
4:13 pm
the mutts are getting chomped, someone please call the national guard.
FLA DAWG
October 31st, 2009
4:13 pm
Hey Jacket Fans,
Get the hell off our Game Day Blog.
We know we stink – almost as bad as you guys stunk for decades.
Andy
October 31st, 2009
4:13 pm
I saw chipper on TV decked out in UF gear. LOL
farleydawg79
October 31st, 2009
4:13 pm
hey…another first down….my mind must be playing tricks on me…
bugsquacher
October 31st, 2009
4:13 pm
the players dont even look fired up ….
Wont Jones
October 31st, 2009
4:13 pm
AJ might as well be on the sideline – they’re not throwing it to him anyway!
Frogger
October 31st, 2009
4:13 pm
AJ on the sideline, good use of the star. Looks like the O can hang if they don’t stop themselves but that damn willie D can’t stop a thing.
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
4:13 pm
Green. Nice grab.
JB
October 31st, 2009
4:13 pm
Bradley,
Are you getting all of your comments in early so you can leave during the second half? j/k
Ginger
October 31st, 2009
4:13 pm
good catch AJ
Terd Feurgusson
October 31st, 2009
4:13 pm
did Cox actually complete a pass ?
SouthTXDawg
October 31st, 2009
4:13 pm
White and Gold. Go away. This is a Georgia blog. Sounds smple right? I thought you Techies were smart? FIRST DOWN AJ!!
jerry
October 31st, 2009
4:13 pm
15 and 1/2 is still good.
White & Gold Forever
October 31st, 2009
4:13 pm
@ Danny G – No this is NOT embarrasing no matter who your preference is – I LOVE IT. The real team kickoffs in just over 3 hours!
WHAT’S THE GOOD WORD?
TXDawg
October 31st, 2009
4:13 pm
Finally…..AJ…..I started him in my Fantasy lineup today…come on!!
Dawg Nation 09
October 31st, 2009
4:13 pm
What a catch by AJ
Frogger
October 31st, 2009
4:13 pm
I better not see another run on 3rd and 15.
Firemarkricht.net
October 31st, 2009
4:14 pm
We aren’t making Grambling look very good.
bugsquacher
October 31st, 2009
4:14 pm
there you go…. Green, one of only two REAL PLAYERS on GA’s team
farleydawg79
October 31st, 2009
4:14 pm
yea…i have no respect for Chipper…no mention of baseball here please